Crown requests 12-month sentence for Regina chiropractor convicted of sexually assaulting patient
Ruben Manz was accused of seven counts of sexual assaults. All of the complainants were former patients
Crown prosecutors and defence lawyers agree that a Regina chiropractor found guilty of the sexual assault against one of his patients should face a 12-month sentence, but are split on where it should be served.
Ruben Manz was accused of seven counts of sexual assaults. After a four-week trial at Regina Court of King's Bench in 2024, the jury found Manz guilty on one count and not guilty on five of the counts, with the final count declared a mistrial.
The verdicts were announced just before midnight on Dec. 1, 2024.
All of the allegations, which spanned a decade, were made by Manz's former patients. Their identities are protected under a standard publication ban.
Manz sat quietly beside his defence lawyers as sentencing submissions were presented to Justice Janet McMurtry on Friday.
Crown prosecutors requested a 12-month jail term while defence lawyers argued for 12 months served in the community.
Crown prosecutor Carmody Hallamore said the 49-year-old had high moral culpability for the offence, as he was acting as a medical practitioner during the assault.
Prosecutors also requested that Manz be placed on the Sex Offender Information Registration, submit to a DNA order and comply with a weapons prohibition for 10 years.
Defence lawyers Blaine Bevan and Kathy Hodgson-Smith said that under their proposal, Manz would have to comply with a curfew, take part in sexual-offender treatment and complete 100 hours of community service.
If jail is deemed necessary, Bevan argued for a 90-day intermittent sentence to be served on the weekends.
Bevan also asked McMurtry to not impose a firearm restriction, as Manz uses the weapon to hunt wild game and feeds his family with the meat.
The defence highlighted that the publicity around the trial had already affected Manz business, with at least 50 per cent of the chiropractor's patients choosing not to return. They argued that should be considered in the sentencing.
Bevan said the 49-year-old's lack of a previous criminal record should be considered a mitigating factor. Bevan also pointed to the "dozens" of letters in support of Manz from patients, colleagues, friends and family.
Many of those letters were written post-conviction with the knowledge of Manz's guilt. The fact their support had not changed should be taken into account, Bevan said.
He said incarceration would deprive Manz's patients of treatment and effectively punish them for Manz's behaviour.
Prosecutors agreed that the letters show a support from wide-ranging members of the community. However, what the letters don't know is what happened in the office when Manz placed his hand on his patient's breast, prosecutors said. As a result, they should be given little weight, Hallamore said.
The victim submitted an impact statement, but requested that McMurtry read it in private, rather than have it disclosed in open court.
McMurtry reserved her decision until June 23 at 2 p.m. CST.
Seven counts, convicted on one
During the trial, each former patient testified that the chiropractor reached under their bras and touched their breasts while stretching their necks.
Prosecutor Jackie Lane laid out her theory of the case during closing arguments.
Lane said the chiropractor had access to the women as a trusted medical caregiver, and betrayed that trust by touching the women sexually without their consent and without a legitimate medical purpose.
Hodgson-Smith portrayed the events differently during her closing statement, arguing that Manz is a family man who loved his job and always acted appropriately as a chiropractor.
Hodgson-Smith pointed to Manz's willingness to break down details of the complainants' medical reports during his testimony. During the trial, Manz was asked several times to define terminology and explain to the court the process of a regular chiropractic appointment.
The defence argued that the type of neck stretch Manz performed is part of legitimate chiropractic treatment, and that he performed the stretch appropriately and did not purposely touch the witnesses' breasts for a sexual reason.
Hodgson-Smith also said Manz remained consistent and did not contradict himself under cross-examination.
The defence also called the seven accusers "unreliable," saying their accounts of what happened were influenced by the police officer who was leading the case.
Crown attorneys disputed that characterization, describing each of the witnesses as brave for choosing to share their testimonies.
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